PORTSMOUTH - A woman was arrested shortly after allegedly robbing a local pharmacy and crashing her car a short distance from the store, police said.

Cheryl Lees, 59, of Portsmouth, was arrested after police spotted her SUV and gave chase.

Officers had received a report that a woman passed a note demanding pain medication at the Rite Aid Pharmacy on Islington Road. Police said the robber left in a white SUV, which was spotted on nearby on Middle Street.

As an officer attempted to catch up to the vehicle, it accelerated, crashing into another vehicle on Lafayette Road. Police said the woman then fled on foot but was captured after a brief struggle outside her apartment building on Ledgewood Drive.

Lees was charged with robbery, conduct after an accident, disobeying a police officer, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled drug. She was ordered held on $8,000 cash bail and will be arraigned Tuesday.

One occupant of the other car involved in the crash suffered minor injury, police said.